A technical team from the National Youth Services (NYS) visited Elgeyo Marakwet county Wednesday to explore areas of collaboration which would pave way for the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the two entities.
This follows a meeting between Governor Wisley Rotich and the NYS Director General last week which sought to forge a partnership where the latter would deploy their personnel and equipment in the construction and maintenance of roads in the county.
The Deputy Director Mechanical and Transport Peter Juma said they would source materials locally as well as hire casuals from the local community to provide non skilled labour as they undertake the works once the MOU is signed.
Juma who was accompanied by Roads Engineer Ben Wekesa and Transport Inspector Leah Kibe said apart from roads, they would also explore other areas for partnership which include drilling of boreholes and construction of water pans especially in arid areas to ensure there is adequate water for irrigation and domestic use.
He added that NYS would be willing to offer training to the county Enforcement officers either in the institution’s Gilgil or Naivasha training schools.
Speaking when she received the team at the county headquarters, the Deputy Governor Prof. Grace Cheserek hailed the move saying that it was a testament that counties could indeed leverage on other Government agencies for collaboration in development.
“As a county, we have limited equipment as well as a rough terrain that makes it challenging to do roads and other infrastructure. We want to take advantage of your expertise and machinery to carry out these challenging works,” she said.
She clarified that the involvement of NYS does not mean local contractors would be denied county jobs saying NYS was only coming in to complement them in doing the most challenging works especially along the escarpment.
She added that the Executive would work closely with Members of County Assembly (MCAs) to identify the road networks that needed the intervention of NYS.
The team later visited Nyawa-Rimoi road where a section of about 2.5km is yet to be done and the Salaba-Kabulwo road which though passable requires maintenance.
Isaac Kurui, a resident from Nyawa said the completion of the Nyawa-Rimoi road would save them time and money used to and from Rimoi.
“I thank Governor Wisley Rotich for coming to our rescue. We are anxiously waiting for the new road,” he said.
Among the roads to be considered in the partnership include Mogil-Chesewew, Koitilial-Matira, Kapchelal-Chegilet, and Salaba-Kabulwo. Others are Kibendo-Kamaingon, Tambach-Songeto, Chemwabul-Surmo, Kaptere-Changach-Sumbeiywo-Menone and Turesia-Kalwal.
By Alice Wanjiru
